May 4 Another Online 3D CAD Option: SelfCAD, with a Surprise For Readers

Designing a vase shape in 3D using the new SelfCAD 3D modeling service

I’m looking at a new online 3D CAD service, SelfCAD.

The startup company, based in Brooklyn, offers an entirely online CAD experience and their target market is a bit unusual.

But let’s look at the service itself first.

It’s accessible from a web browser, meaning there is little need for extra-powerful PCs or graphics cards. Once you’ve signed up, you gain access to a build volume in which you can use a wide variety of 3D tools.

SelfCAD employs multiple building paradigms, including solids, sketching & extrusion as well as sculpting.

There are many different functions available, including:

Move / Scale / Rotate

Freehand or Spline Drawings

Selection of all object component types

Alignment

Skewing / Tapering / Twisting / Bending

Extrusions / Booleans

Rounding and Beveling

Beveling some edges in SelfCAD

SelfCAD appears to include a very good set of basic 3D CAD functions, and I found it very easy to operate within the environment, as it is very easy to find functions and establish appropriate 3D views for your work.

A curvy shape created with a spline in SelfCAD

Another interesting aspect is that most functions have both a freehand “push or pull to alter object” or a numerical equivalent. In other words, you can do both artistic and engineering approaches.

There are a number of advanced features included, putting SelfCAD above several other low-cost online 3D CAD options.

The history log in SelfCAD shows the sequence of operations used to build the 3D object

One is the history file, which is quite reminiscent of much more expensive tools. You can scroll through previous operations and go back as far as you like.

The "Object Generator" feature in SelfCAD's online 3D modeling service

Another advanced feature is the “Object Generator”, which is a rather comprehensive tool for creating vase-like objects.

As you can see here, there are a great deal of parameters available, and you can even add additional segments to create more complex objects.

I quickly built an awkward looking wonky vase shown at top using the Object Generator. SelfCAD allows you to export the designs as STL files, which I viewed in another tool here:

A completed vase shape made in the SelfCAD online 3D modeling service

It looks pretty good and could actually be 3D printed.

After using SelfCAD, it seems a step up from introductory tools such as Tinkercad, but at the same is a bit less functional than Fusion 360 or Onshape.

The pricing of SelfCAD matches its functionality:

SelfCAD's pricing model

How much does it cost for a year of SelfCAD vs, say, Fusion 360? Let’s compare SelfCAD’s “Premium” level, which offers all functions but constrains online storage to 1GB. (They offer a “Professional” package with 5GB storage at USD$180 per year).

SelfCAD Premium annual USD$144

Fusion 360 annual USD$275

That’s almost a reasonable compromise if you’re short on budget, but want something well beyond free tools. As an online tool, SelfCAD would be automatically always at the current release level, as well.

My question is whether the market wants a 3D CAD tool of intermediate capability and pricing. Autodesk, Solidworks, Onshape and others have the high-end market pretty much locked up, while numerous free tools offer limited capabilities. Could SelfCAD be a popular choice among semi-professional 3D workers? We’ll soon see.

If you want to try SelfCAD, it does offer a 30 day free trial in which you can check out all the features.

But just for you, dear Fabbaloo readers, SelfCAD has offered a significant discount: If you sign up with this code: fabbaloo-30, you will receive a 50% discount for 12 months after the 30-day trial expires. A great deal!

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has been writing Fabbaloo posts since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!

Kerry Stevenson, aka "General Fabb" has been writing Fabbaloo posts since he launched the venture in 2007, with an intention to promote and grow the incredible technology of 3D printing across the world. So far, it seems to be working!